Bon Jovi Vancouver: 20 photos and videos of the epic concert that almost didn't happen
Jon Bon Jovi promised and delivered what his fans deserved and, of course, paid for.
The 53-year-old New Jersey native rocked out to an ecstatic crowd of approximately 8,000 people at Roger Arena on Saturday night. The concert appropriately began with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”
The concert was originally scheduled for Brockton Oval at Stanley Park, but local organizers Paper Rain Performances canceled the concert due to the event’s low ticket sales, which meant the company would be unable to pay vendors and equipment. Only 60 per cent of the 14,000 tickets were sold.
In addition to the lack of cash flow, the company did not acquire the necessary permits from the City of Vancouver to host the outdoor event. The following day after the initial cancelation announcement, Paper Rain declared bankruptcy.
After days of uncertainty and public finger pointing, Bon Jovi’s management team announced on Thursday the concert would be relocated to Rogers Arena, a 48-hour turn-around feat achieved with the help of Tourism Vancouver and the stadium. The concert comes at a cost to Bon Jovi himself, who will not be making any profit from the event.
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During a pre-concert interview Global News, Bon Jovi said the concert had to go on because “integrity matters” to him.
“If you give your word to somebody I think you should do the very best you can to follow through on that word.”
Bon Jovi has a well-known affinity with Vancouver, having recorded three of their best-selling albums in the city during the late-1980s and early-1990s.
.@BonJovi at #rogersarena Fun night!! #dearsybersue #vancouver #talkshow #music #bonjovi
A video posted by Susan McCord (@dearsybersue) on
Just one happy dude @enzolaura2 #bonjovi #bonjoviconcert #runawaytours #vancouver #vancity #amazing
A video posted by Britt (@brittleah_) on
This guy. @enzolaura2 #bonjovi #bonjoviconcert #runawaytours #vancouver #vancity #amazing
A video posted by Britt (@brittleah_) on
A photo posted by Daniel Frankel (@dgbars) on
this #Vancouver #rogersarena #BonJovi #JonBonJovi #jbj #rockstar #legend #concert #fans #integrity
A photo posted by @jbjadore on
#BonJovi #VancityBuzz #itsmylife
A video posted by Terra French (@msterrafab_mua) on
A very happy crowd #encore #jonbonjovi #rogersarena #vancouver
A photo posted by Megs (@megsrhys) on
Wow!! #BonJovi #RogersArena #VanCity U Give Love A Bad Name!!
A video posted by Cry$tal (@crystalafrika) on
Bon Jovi 2015 #rogersarena #bonjovi #2015 #happybirthdaylittlebrother #hisfirstconcertever
A photo posted by Kaley Dee (@kaley_dee) on
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